>> and on behalf of the society, its board of directors, and want to welcome you to the celebration of the 2012 black history month kickoff program here at city hall. on behalf of our sponsors, comcast, represented by linda today, i believe, and mr. chang, from comcast, on behalf of our co presenters who are in the audience and listed on the back of your program -- i will read them off to you and ask that they would stand as i read the groups of. the alpha kappa alpha sorority. we have the bayview ymca urban

services program. please remain standing, if you would. we have the black women organized for political action in the crown. we have a black women's during the waters with us today. gamma phi delta sorority. the museum of the african diaspora. the national coalition of 100 black women, san francisco chapter. the it san francisco chapter of the links inc.. let us give them a round of applause. [applause] these are all code-presenters of this event. it is a portrait these organizations are here. the theme for black history this month is black women in american culture and history. all these organizations are organizations of black women who do an outstanding and amazing job. i would also like to acknowledge members of the official family, supervisor malia cohen,

supervisor, fifth district, supervisor chu, supervisor olague, and supervisor weiner. i am going to miss some people. we have port commissioner kim brandon with us today. [applause] and a host of others. i am sure i will get the names as they come up. i would like to thank you for being here, and welcome. we are going to start the program with an indication by reverend carolyn dyson. reverend dyson, who is going to do the indication for us, also has the signal honor of being the first woman ordained in the baptist church in the city and county of san francisco, back in 1982. join me in welcoming rev. dyson,

please. [applause] >> good afternoon, everybody. an indication. we come as a community today, calling for the validation and good things on this occasion, in celebration of black history. we have gathered at this moment in time so that historical truths would be this month pepys celebration foundation, as the city once again owners the contributions of african- americans. let the scribe's record that on the third day of february, in the year 2012, in the city of st. francis, time stood still as the historical accounts of african americans in america and in san francisco were acknowledged for their

contributions that helped to build the nation and the city. as we allow this invitation to lend itself to truth, i pray that there can be an understanding, that there can be no history that does not weaved into the fabric of its record the true, undistorted account of the slaves, the negros, black folks, and african americans, calling forth the truth of our journey today. and truth be told, while our babies were being sold, our men were still call boys, and our women were referenced as dell's and girls. black people, my people, our people even then, were daring to make differences and contributions to american history. you can say amen.

from harriet tubman to slave porters in the underground railroad, to michelle obama and today's white house. the footprints on history from african-americans cannot be washed away. and the bells of greatness, ingenious, artistic talent, philanthropy, and leadership cannot be on rum -- cannot be unrung. we have come this far by faith. we celebrate and embrace this theme of the african american women, culture, and history. wellcome will not allow me in this discourse to call the role of great women in african american history. let me pray that their numbers are many, and the stories of them tell the truth of women, african american women, in culture and history. for our women have been on the

move. our women have refused to be moved. and our women continue to move mountains in african american history. and now, in closing, let me cradle this month's celebration in the history -- in the city of st. francis, with a sense of gratitude and neutral respect. the we black, white, brown, or red, we are all god's children. mavis in vacation -- may this invocation be accepted and the record show that in the city of st. francis, black history 2012 celebrated in truth the contribution, culture, and history of african-americans, and their contributions to this nation and to this great city. let us say a man. -- amen. >> thank you, reverend dyson.

ok. with that, we are going to move to the next item on the agenda, which is the singing of "lift every voice and sing," the negro national anthem. it is in your program. the words in your program. we are only going to sing the first stanza. we are not going to sing all three versus of it. in your program. please stand. >> everyone join in with singing the national anthem, "lift every voice and sing," by james weldon johnson. ♪ lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring

rang with the harmony of liberty let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies let it resume armed -- resound loud as the roaring sea sing a song full of the hope it has brought us sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us facing the rising sun

of our new day begun let us march on till victory is won ♪ thank you. [applause] >> i understand that the mayor will be joining us in a minute. i have some other person's i would like to identify it as present. commissioner griffith is with us. also harlan kelly, assistant general manager san francisco public utilities commission, junior partner to our keynote speaker today. [applause] dr. veronica honey cut with the san francisco community college. a member of the board of education. dr. moses is with us.

commissioner linda richardson is with us also. one of the things that is significant -- i mentioned that reverend dyson is the first woman ordained in the baptist church in san francisco, in 1982. it is also very significant that this year -- we should also be aware this is the 160th anniversary of three of the leading religious institutions in the african american community. the zion church, of bethel, and third baptist will all be celebrating their 160th anniversary this year. these churches were established two years after san francisco was established. thank you for joining us. [applause] the other thing i would like to speak briefly on is the fact that we celebrate black history month annually.

black history month was started under the auspices of the association for the study of african american life and history. it was designed as a time when we highlight the contributions and roll african americans have played in society in general, and the world at large. recently, there was a movie that was screened that i have the privilege of being on a panel to discuss a after the movie. it was entitled "more than just a month." there was a discussion going on about the history, whether african american history should be relegated to a month, or whether it should be celebrated 365 days of the year. the effect of the matter is that it is celebrated 365 days a year. this represents a culmination of

a specific focus. when we talk about african- american history, we are talking about african american history not as a separate and distinct history, but as an integral part of history -- the history of san francisco, the history of the united states, and of the world. we cannot think about this broader concept of history without understanding the role and contributions people of african descent have played in this broader statement of what history is. this is true not only for people of african descent, but all people. we are all part of history. "we present from the african american perspective is simply that -- a perspective of history that helps fill up that picture. without the understanding of these covers perspectives, it is difficult to fully appreciate our true history. i am doing the best i can

appear. -- up here. i guess we should have some of three stanzas a couple of times. [laughter] we also have ms. jackson with us. a pleasure to have you with us. in your programs, there is also a flier in your programs. it is on the flip side of "lift every voice and sing." it is a flier about a program which will be doing on sunday, february 26. we will be honoring several african american women, consistent with the theme of african american history and culture. those women are identified here. we do have one of them with us today. i have a supervisor kennedy with us today. she will be one of the people we will be honoring on the 26th.

we certainly encourage you all to come out and be part of that event. that is fine. with that, i think what we will do is -- are featured speaker today -- the mayor was delayed with some matters of urgency before him. rather than delay further, we will move on. i will assume the honor. there is no way i can do the justice he would have done to introducing our keynote speaker today. but i will say that in your programs we have a brief biography of our keynote speaker today, naomi kelly. you can read that at your leisure about her background. suffice it to say that ms. kelly

is an extraordinary woman with a great contribution to the city and county of san francisco in her administrative capacities. we have the pleasure of working with her and the city administrator, ed lee, when the society was engaged in working to have the city adopts a slavery disclosure ordinance, which the board of supervisors did adopt. it is on the book. the ordinance would require certain entities that do business with the city to disclose whether their origins -- where they have their origins historic plea, and whether they are in any way related to slave trade. we worked closely with ms. kelley in that regard. the skills, expertise, and commitment she brought to that challenge was unswerving in terms of its implementation. at the board of supervisors last week, we were there when the announcement -- when she was

before committee with regard to her nomination to become the next city administrator. i got up and made a few comments. somebody got up after me. i said to that after him, "i wish i had said what he said." he said we talk about the fact that naomi kelly, hopefully next tuesday, will be approved by the board of supervisors to become the first african- american, first woman as city administrator. we all hope for that. not just because she is the first african american. not just because she is a woman. but because she is absolutely, by far, the best person to do that job. and our experience with her was that she -- [applause] and as evidence of the wisdom and great insight of san francisco african american historical and cultural society, we invited her to be our keynote

speaker before she was nominated, so we knew what was coming up. we would like to welcome to further introduce our keynote speaker, mayor lee. [applause] >>(z

you today to kick off this very important event, the 2012 black history month in our wonderful city. a city for the 100%. everybody gets to live in our city and live with dignity. that is what i am going to be doing in all my years is making sure everyone can be here. [applause] we are recognizing the celebrates the spirit of our african-american experience, the contributions that everyone has made to our great city to make sure it is a diversity. that is why i moved here. it is why you moved here. that is why so many of her friends decided it would make their mark here in our city because of our diversity. this year's theme could be no less important. black women and american history and culture.

absolutely. and it is particularly poignant that it highlights african- americans experiences through their patriotism, through their labor, leadership, motherhood, intellect, and artistic expression. all of us regardless of ethnic origin or social and economic background have benefited from the contributions of these women. in the american culture, menino of the historical accomplishments of the african- american women, phyllis wheatley, harriet tubman, leader of underground railroad. ida wells, the unyielding upon it to a lynching. rosa parks, of course, the mother of the modern civil rights movement and on and on. gwendolyn brooks, tommy morrison

-- toni morrison. wonderful writers. awe still have a ways to go, we hav a long ways to go. as an author to have helped our human rights commission read the agenda we have a ways to go. [applause] that is why i look at the audience, i see a lot of people that will help us get there. our board of supervisors are here, our other elected officials, the treasure is here. members from all the other communities are here. because it is not just something the african-american community can do. the chinese -- a chinese person can help with the advantage to agenda.

a latino person can help. a korean person can help. a gay person can help. everyone can help accomplish the unfinished agenda for everyone. i often talk about partnerships. we have to partner with our african-american community to get things done and that will be the only correct way to get things done. is that partnership. [applause] so when i make announcements, when the board of supervisors and we pass legislation, we're always going to do it with a commitment in our minds that there is a partnership with our african-american community to get things done in the city. whether i am talking about jobs, and we have a partner on jobs, whether i am talking about creating a housing trust fund, when i am talking about hope sf, anything that is of any innovation or anything that

fulfills a historic promise that the city made to our african and american community. we have to partner with our youth and african-american parents and communities and african american owned businesses. all that has to be done together. i will commit to you -- [applause] this is not to me just a celebration. although very important to recognize. it is an ongoing way that we do business and think and live in the city. we live in partnerships. we help -- to lift each other. i get that opportunity as the first asian mayor. it is my turn to help lift up the african-american community and find talent where it is and create hope and make sure we're all safe at the same time where we're becoming successful.

at this time, i want to lie in partnership ask our supervisor malia cohen to come up and share this proclamation presentation. . we're going to present it well deserving proclamation proclaims this black history month but i am giving it to someone that iowa's held in great esteem and had a chance to work with him on understanding better the history but also even engaging him in research we did a few years ago to discover and uncover where those banks across the country, what are they doing to help us with people who have suffered for so many years in a generation to create new

programs and fund them. so with this, with this recognition and i join this with our city administrator as well, to present the proclamation to mr. al williams declaring this black history month in san francisco. [applause] and now, ladies and gentlemen, something you have been awaiting for and for me pretty special, we have a keynote speaker today, but she

is not only justice speaker, she is someone that i think it exemplifies the theme of this year's black history month fame. black women and american history and culture. someone who i now working in partnership with this community and all the other communities will set about to make history in the city for many generations to come. dedicated public servant. obviously a personal friend and someone who has had deep roots in our community and also my nominee for a city administrator of the city and county of san francisco. please welcome your keynote speaker, naomi kelly. [applause] >> thank you.

good afternoon, everyone. thank you, mr. mayor. thank you, al williams, thank you reverend. it was great to see charles r. drew here. he was a member of my mother's family. we celebrate our family reunions in the summer. they are there and iti is great to see the school year. it is my great pleasure and honor to kick off the 2012 black history month and to share some reflection about black women and american culture and history. the publication, black history bulletin, recently devoted an entire issue to the subject and

in their forward, to blackmuns dollars attributed these characteristics to black woman in america. unshakable, conflating sacrifice -- on flinching sacrifice. we know about countless women from the past to the present who have lived their lives in this way. in fact, like many of you come out my political and educational and historical education started with my family. my consciousness about being black and being proud began with the luminous woman in my life will comprise my roots, my fulcrum and my foundation. my fraternal grandmother, her father was born a slave and later became an owner of a farm in virginia. in prince edward county, virginia. this was the county that was the site of a 1951 protest led by

black students to persuade their local school board to build them a better school. it also led in part to the landmark civil rights place -- decision, brown vs. board of education. my grandmother and her sisters realized early on that education was important for their survival. their unshakeable persistence and unflinching sacrifice led them to better lives. not only did they had -- have to do with racism but the belief that a woman's place was in the home and in this case on the farm doing the chores like cooking, cleaning, milking the cow and cutting wood. this is the 1930's. you have to cut wood for everything. as i mentioned earlier prince edward county was not interested in educating colored children but my grandmother and her

sisters were persistent and found a school in the neighboring county of appomattox which was down the street from the courthouse where general robert e. lee surrendered to general ulysses s. grant that ended the civil war. once they found that school that had the next calabash task of convincing their father they should go to school. and the way they convinced him was by saying we will take care of the chores on the farm. we will do that work and our school will not interfere with the business of the farm. they did this and that was no easy task because my great- grandfather ruled his farm with an iron fist. yet to me, this was -- there are an example of their unshakeable persistence and unflinching sacrifice for their pursuit for a better life. as i determined black women left their home and saw entertainment in washington, d.c.. and they knew the value men --